Genetics & Specific Cognitive Abilities: Highly Heritable (50%)

General intelligence, known as g or IQ, has long been the focus of cognitive genetics research. But what about more specific cognitive abilities, the building blocks that make up IQ? A sweeping new meta-analysis of over 740,000 twins surprisingly suggests: Specific cognitive abilities (SCA) like reading, math and processing speed are just as heritable as …

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Genetics Determine Social Status: According to 400-Year England Study

A new study examining the family trees of over 400,000 people in England over the past 400 years suggests that rates of social mobility have remained remarkably static despite massive societal changes. The research implies that an individual’s social status is strongly influenced by genetic factors that are passed down through families for generations. Key …

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Female Psychopaths & Intelligence: Low IQ Scores Linked to Higher Psychopathic Traits

Psychopathy, a severe personality disorder characterized by emotional coldness, impulsivity, and antisocial tendencies, has long fascinated researchers and the general public alike. A new Italian study sheds light on the relationship between psychopathy and intelligence in female criminal offenders, finding that higher psychopathic traits are associated with lower IQ. Key Facts: Researchers administered psychological assessments …

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Pharmacology, Benefits, Risks of Kratom: A Prescription Opioid Alternative

Kratom is a plant gaining popularity as an alternative painkiller and recreational drug. But how much do we really know about its risks and benefits? About Kratom: Kratom is a tropical tree in the coffee family, native to Southeast Asia. People ingest its leaves to produce stimulant and opioid-like effects. Use is rising in the …

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Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) & Brain Imaging: White Matter Abnormalities

A new brain imaging study has uncovered structural differences in the white matter of young men diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). These differences provide clues into the neural correlates underlying the grandiose sense of self and lack of empathy that characterize NPD. Key Facts: Researchers used diffusion tensor imaging to compare white matter microstructure …

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Do Music Preferences Change in Psychiatric Disorders?

Mental health and music are deeply intertwined, with music being able to powerfully impact emotions and psychological states. A new study explores how music preferences and use of music for emotion modulation may change after the onset of mental disorders, providing intriguing findings on the complex role music can play in mental health. Key facts: …

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Kava Kava Hepatotoxicity: Liver Damage & Failure Risks

Kava kava, an herbal remedy derived from the roots of Piper methysticum, has long been used in Oceania as a traditional ceremonial drink. In recent decades it gained popularity in Western countries as an over-the-counter treatment for anxiety, insomnia, and stress. However, reports of liver damage sparked global restrictions on kava products in the early …

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Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation: Benefits & Future Applications

Our brains contain around 100 billion neurons communicating through an intricate web of connections. This complex circuitry controls everything we think, feel, and do. But sometimes things can go wrong, leading to neurological disorders like epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, depression and Alzheimer’s. An exciting new approach called transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is showing great promise as …

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Focused Ultrasound (FUS): A Transformative Noninvasive Brain Treatment

Focused ultrasound (FUS) is an exciting noninvasive brain treatment technology that is revolutionizing how we approach neurological and psychiatric diseases. This incisionless technique uses precisely targeted sound waves to therapeutically stimulate or ablate brain tissue. The Big Picture: FUS uses focused, high-intensity sound waves to precisely treat diseased brain regions without incisions. It has FDA …

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